INCLUDING EXAMINERS COMMENTS R3111 UNDERSTANDING GARDEN SURVEY TECHNIQUES & DESIGN PRINCIPLES Level 3 Thursday 23 June 2016 09:30 10:55 Written Examination Candidate Number: Candidate Name: Centre Number/Name:.. IMPORTANT Please read carefully before commencing: i) The duration of this paper is 85 minutes; ii) iii) iv) ALL questions should be attempted; EACH question carries 10 marks; Write your answers legibly in the spaces provided. It is NOT necessary that all lined space is used in answering the questions; v) Use METRIC measurements only; vi) vii) viii) ix) Use black or blue ink only. Pencil may be used for drawing purposes only; Where plant names are required, they should include genus, species and where appropriate, cultivar. Where a question requires a specific number of answers; only the first answers given that meet the question requirement will be accepted, regardless of the number of answers offered; Please note, when the word distinct is used within a question, it means that the items have different characteristics or features. Ofqual Unit Code M/507/5862 Please turn over/..
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS Q1 a) State EIGHT characteristic features of a Victorian garden. 8 2 Please see over/..
b) Describe ONE technical innovation from the Victorian period that influenced garden design. 2 Total Mark Please turn over/.. 3
Q2 a) Identify SIX pieces of information required about utility areas when developing a client brief. 6 4 Please see over/..
b) Describe TWO ways in which photographic material is used to develop the client brief. 4 Total Mark Please turn over/.. 5
Q3 State what needs to be recorded during a site appraisal for EACH of the following: i) hard landscaping features; ii) trees, other than TPOs. 5 5 6 Please see over/..
7 Total Mark Please turn over/..
Q4 Explain how the principle of scale and proportion can be used when planning the following: i) a shrub border; ii) steps and paths; iii) a patio; iv) a focal point, stating an example. 2 3 2 3 8 Please see over/..
Total Mark Please turn over/.. 9
Q5 a) b) Name THREE distinct types of plan which can be drawn up from a site survey. State SEVEN pieces of technical or factual information to be included on plan documents. 3 7... Please see over/.. 10
... Total Mark Please turn over/.. 11
Q6 Describe FIVE distinct soft landscape design techniques that can be used to bring interest to a garden border. 10 Please see over/.. 12
. Total Mark Please turn over/.. 13
Q7 a) b) Describe the significance of high altitude to the garden climate. Describe THREE garden design methods to offset the limitations imposed by high altitude. 4 6 Please see over/.. 14
... Total Mark Please turn over/.. 15
Q8 a) Describe the use of triangulation to survey the position of a large conifer tree in a garden......... 6 Please see over/.. 16
b) State FOUR site factors that may create difficulties in carrying out this survey. 4.................. ******* Total Mark 17
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These questions are the property of the Royal Horticultural Society. They must not be reproduced or sold. The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. Charity Registration Number: 222879/SC038262 20
R3111 UNDERSTANDING GARDEN SURVEY TECHNIQUES & DESIGN PRINCIPLES Level 3 Thursday 23 June 2016 Candidates Registered 49 Total Candidates Passed 35 77.78% Candidates Entered 45 Passed with Commendation 3 6.67% Candidates Absent/Withdrawn 4 Passed 32 71.11% Candidates Deferred 0 Failed 10 22.22% Senior Examiner s Comments On the whole this paper was well answered with the majority of candidates attempting and completing all the questions. The following guidelines should be of help to future candidates. 1. Where named plant examples are asked for, full botanical names (genus and species) are required to achieve full marks. Common names will not be given a mark. 2. Use the command statements e.g. list or name (single words only), state (a few sentences), describe or explain (a fuller answer) together with the mark allocation, to judge the depth of the answer. Half marks are often allocated where the basic information given is correct but needs further qualification to gain the full mark. 3. Where a number of answers are specified in the question, the examiner will not select correct answers from a list e.g. if the question states State TWO plant names, only the first two names given will be marked. 4. Labels on diagrams should be correctly positioned to avoid ambiguity and diagrams should be clearly drawn and annotated. No marks will be awarded for artistic merit. 5. Candidates should use unambiguous plant examples as reference sources from, for example, the RHS Find a Plant Service available on the RHS Website. 21
Q1 a) State EIGHT characteristic features of a Victorian garden. 8 b) Describe ONE technical innovation from the Victorian period that influenced garden design. 2 1 a) The question asked for statements of the characteristics of Victorian gardens. Marks were awarded for stating elements or characteristics that are typical of the Victorian style. No marks were given for features inherited from previous garden periods. Some examples include: Use of massed bedding plants replaced two or more times during the gardening year, with examples of plants or planting style (for additional marks). Inclusion of decorative glass houses which were used for growing new and exotic plant imports, such as Auricula spp. and tender perennials. Special plant collections in ferneries, arboreta and rockeries designed to display the collection. Ornate wrought iron features such as arches and plant supports. Formal parterres close to the house, with Italianate terraces and balustrades. Where any statement included more than one distinct feature or characteristic, incremental marks were credited. 1 b) Technical innovations from the Victorian period that have influenced garden design include the invention of sheet glass production which enabled cheaper manufacture of greenhouses and conservatories, advances in plant breeding techniques allowing mass production and new hybrids, and the invention of the lawn mower enabling the establishment of closely mown lawns as a garden feature. Other relevant 19th century innovations were also accepted. 22
MARK S Q2 a) Identify SIX pieces of information required about utility areas when developing a client brief. 6 b) Describe TWO ways in which photographic material is used to develop the client brief. 4 2 a) This question required candidates to identify information required about utility areas when developing a client brief. Correct answers related to client needs rather than to any site observations. Utility areas include waste bins, composting, clothes drying, parking facilities and sheds. Examples of information which could be required are: The most practical location for waste bins and recycling bins to suit the family needs. The size of composting area required. The type of machinery and equipment needing to be housed. The size and number of sheds that are needed for general storage e.g. for bikes. The type of washing line required i.e. a rotary or linear washing line. Any changes to parking facilities. Other valid answers were credited, provided they related to client needs and preferences and not describing design solutions. 2 b) Photographic material can be useful to help develop the client brief in the following ways: The designer can show images from life-style magazines, gardening magazines and gardening books to assess garden styles and plant preferences. A range of manufacturers and product brochures can be used to assess client preferences for hard landscaping, garden features and materials. The designer or the client can produce a mood-board representing different design ideas from a range of sources (printed, internet, and own photographs) in order to present likes and dislikes of garden style, materials and planting ideas. Answers that stated a specific source of photographic material and its use in developing the client brief gained the best marks. 23
Q3 State what needs to be recorded during a site appraisal for EACH of the following: iii) iv) hard landscaping features; trees, other than TPOs. Q3 During a site appraisal it is necessary to record any information that may impact on the development of the garden design and planning. A site appraisal should record the condition and suitability of the existing features for any future use. Q3i) Candidates were credited for the selection of any five distinct observations made about hard landscaping features, such as: The condition of existing path and patio surface. Any drainage issues affecting surfaces of patios, steps etc. The condition and suitability of walls fences and safety thereof. The condition of ponds and water features, are they functional? What materials are present in existing features (which may be retained and reflected in the design). 5 5 Q3ii) The site assessor will record important observations about trees that may have an impact on the future plan. They should record: Desirable or undesirable shade cast by tree canopies. Identifiable remedial work required for safety. The presence of diseases that require attention. Whether the trees block attractive or undesirable views. Any potential damage caused by invasive roots. The potential size of the trees into maturity. Wildlife value of the trees. Candidates were credited for five valid observations. Marks could not be credited for location of features or height and spread of trees as this is determined during the survey stage. 24
Q4 Explain how the principle of scale and proportion can be used when planning the following: v) a shrub border; vi) steps and paths; vii) a patio; viii) a focal point, stating an example. Q4 The principle of scale and proportion describes the relative size of objects within a garden both to each other and to the garden setting. It also refers to the ratio of the dimensions of individual elements. Many candidates found it difficult to apply the principle to real examples in the given categories in the question. Candidates tended to limit their answers to stating that objects needed to be in proportion to something, or that elements should be not too big or too small. Those who related the principle to a definitive solution gained better marks. The designer would use scale and proportion to give consideration to: 2 3 2 3 Q4i) a shrub border The overall length and width of the border in relation to other spacial elements e.g. an adjacent lawn or patio. Relative size of individual shrubs to each other within the border, including when fully grown. Q4ii) steps and paths The dimensions of a path may be determined by other related elements e.g. where a path leads to a summerhouse, the path width can match the door opening. Where they are adjacent, the width of paths should be in keeping with the width of steps. The ratio of risers and treads is to be considered for practical and aesthetic effect. The importance of dimensions of surface materials to reinforce style e.g. effect of small cobbles in a cottage garden or large paving slabs in a minimalist setting. Q4iii) patio The dimensions of a patio can be in the same ratio as the dimensions of a feature of the house e.g. a bay window or porch. An explanation of how the golden proportion can be used to decide width and length. Q4iv) focal point Candidates could choose any focal point to illustrate their answer. A suitable example would be a water feature at the centre of cross axes, where the size of the feature should be appropriate to distance from a viewing point so as to be adequately viewed, and the height of the water feature must be appropriate to its overall garden setting. Marks were not awarded for points relating to balance or other design principles. 25
Q5 a) Name THREE distinct types of plan which can be drawn up from a site survey. 3 b) State SEVEN pieces of technical or factual information to be included on plan documents. 7 Q5 a) Plans which can be drawn up from a site survey are site plans, level or contour plans, section drawings, and services plans. Concept plans, final design drawings and planting plans were not accepted as these result from the design stage. b) Factual and technical information included on plan documents may include the following: Client or property name Date of survey Scale Graphic symbols or BS symbols Legend/Key to symbols Orientation or North point Name of designer or surveyor Datum points Plant schedule Measurements Q6 Describe FIVE distinct soft landscape design techniques that can be used to bring interest to a garden border. 10 This question asked for a description of five distinct soft landscape design techniques that can be used to bring interest to a garden border. A wide range of possible answers was accepted, with the best marks given for describing a distinctive technique and linking it to interest in the border. A few examples are: Use of a restricted colour theme in planting throughout the border, such as purple and yellow flowers for maximum contrast. Varying the height of plants e.g. in a deep border vary the height of plants from front to back of border to create a tiered effect. Use of a range of textures, with clumps of feathery foliage in contrast to leathery leaves e.g. Astilbe Venus with Hosta sieboldiana. Use a mixture of plant forms within the design e.g. upright Juniperus scopulorum Skyrocket under planted with the rounded form of Skimmia japonica. Successional planting creates interest through the year - planting for spring, summer, autumn, winter e.g. flowers, bark, foliage and berries. Planting for sound or movement in the wind e.g. large grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis. The question did not ask for definitions of design principles. Answers which mentioned a technique but did not relate it to a valid example of soft landscaping in a border received lower marks. 26
Q7 a) Describe the significance of high altitude to the garden climate. 4 b) Describe THREE garden design methods to offset the limitations imposed by high altitude. 6 Q7 a) High altitude can affect the garden climate in a range of ways. Temperature falls with increased altitude. There may be greater differences between day and night time temperatures (diurnal range), as well as bigger seasonal differences. Higher altitudes may be accompanied by increased exposure to wind, frost and lying snow. There may be higher rainfall than at lower elevations. No marks were awarded for describing examples of microclimate. b) Candidates were asked to describe three garden design methods to offset the limitations imposed by high altitude. Answers were accepted for any description of methods to mitigate the effects listed in part a), for example: Establish a shelter belt such as a Crataegus monogyna hedge to provide protection against cold damaging winds. Install protective structures e.g. a greenhouse provides a microclimate for a wider range of plants. Plant a selection of hardy plants such as alpines in a rockery. Choose sheltered places for locating seating areas e.g. in front of a south facing wall or inside an enclosed courtyard. 27
Q8 a) Describe the use of triangulation to survey the position of a large conifer tree in a garden. 6 b) State FOUR site factors that may create difficulties in carrying out this survey. 4 a) This question required a description of a triangulation survey, although diagrams were credited where they clarified the answer or added detail. To survey the position of a large conifer it would be necessary to establish a baseline as a fixed reference from which to take further measurements. On the base line identify two fixed points (A and B), at a sufficient distance apart. Using a surveyors tape measure the distance between A and B. Measure from A and B to a fixed point on the tree and record all these measurements in a field book. Measure or estimate the diameter (spread) of the tree at ground level. The question did not require descriptions of how to transfer survey data to a scale drawing, therefore no marks were credited for this. No marks were allowed for a description of the offset method. b) Site factors that may create difficulties in carrying out this survey include the following: Windy conditions on survey day. Slope or contours affecting linear measurements (lengthening). Obstacles, such as overgrown vegetation, in the way of survey lines. Tree branches to the ground making measuring to the trunk difficult. Boggy ground affecting access to survey points. No marks were allowed for difficulties with equipment as this is not a site factor. These questions are the property of the Royal Horticultural Society. They must not be reproduced or sold. The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. Charity Registration Number: 222879/SC038262 28